CSPD releases use of force report
The Colorado Springs Police Department has released a report detailing the results of a recent use of force review.
The review was conducted between December 2015 and March 2016 and resulted in the following 11 recommendations:
CSPD needs to give clearer guidance on when to identify and investigate a potential use of force policy violation.
CSPD needs to give clearer guidance in the difference between “Unfounded” and “Exonerated” CSPD needs to re-examine investigative guidance and the evidence that is necessary to arrive at a disposition. CSPD needs to consider consolidation of Use of Force policies. CSPD needs to find ways to improve officers’ documentation and supervisors’ documentation. CSPD should consider additional training based on current best practices in use of force as well as traffic or pedestrian stops. CSPD should develop a plan to publicly release this report. CSPD needs more thorough investigations, particularly when the allegation is a use of excessive or inappropriate force. Assaulted officers should not be involved in further interaction with the suspect (e.g. prisoner processing) once the immediate danger has passed. De-escalation technique training should continue. CSPD should discuss the level one and level two distinctions in internal investigations
The review was conducted by a 10-member committee which examined 119 cases involving use of force by Colorado Springs officers.
The police department says that the purpose of the project was three-fold:
To review CSPD complaints involving use of force to determine whether the disposition was accurate.
To determine whether any changes or improvements in training, process and or policy are warranted.
To review sustained use of force complaints for reasonableness of discipline and make recommendations for changes or improvements in training, process, and/or policy related to discipline for inappropriate use of force.
According to the report, the reviewers agreed with the majority of the original dispositions. In cases where the committee disagreed with the disposition, the problems were usually fixable with clearer definitions of technical terminology.
“This review has confirmed that CSPD has a solid internal investigative process for complaints that will be further strengthened by the committee’s recommendations,” Police Chief Pete Carey said. “I also want to thank the committee members, both CSPD staff and our representative from the El Paso County Sheriff’s department for their time commitment, thoughtfulness and perspectives on reviewing this important topic,” he said.
The City of Colorado Springs has published on online discussion board on its website and encourages members of the community to discuss the report there.
